"I'm proud of my record, the Doncaster fans and the players and management," Ryan told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It is a very sad day for me, but I felt something needed to change and felt increasingly isolated."

Ryan took over the club in 1998 when they were a Conference side, and his reign has seen them win four promotions, a first major cup in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and return to the second tier for the first time in half a century.

I was very disappointed the Sequentia deal didn't go through, I thought it was a tremendous opportunity.

Former Doncaster chairman John Ryan

But in June, reports emerged of Sequentia's interest in taking over the South Yorkshire club and a heads of terms agreement was signed by both parties.